A college degree isn't necessary if you want to become a car salesman. At minimum, most employers require a high school diploma. Most of the training is on the job. The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not have a specific salary category for car salesman. However, it does report that all employees at automobile dealers, including sales agents, earned $19.11 per hour on average in 2012.

Non-Management Careers

A salesman who doesn't want to become a manager usually won't need a college education, although some dealerships might still prefer to hire salesmen who have an associate's or a bachelor's degree. Business and marketing courses are helpful. Once hired, most employers provide on-the-job training. Depending on the size of the dealership, this training might include classes that typically cover sales and customer service techniques. Even if new hires do not complete classes, they usually work with seasoned salesmen to learn the ropes.

Management Track Careers

Management positions at a dealership might require a college education. The employer will specify whether a salesman will need an associate's or a bachelor's degree. A bachelor's degree in business administration could be more useful and appealing to potential employers. Most will not require candidates to have a degree in a specific discipline. Dealerships might offer several paths into a management position. Common ways are promoting experienced salesmen or hiring salesmen as management trainees.

Auto Sales and Management Degrees

Car salesmen who want to advance to management positions can earn two- or four-year degrees in automotive management. These degrees are slightly different from a major in business administration. A degree in automotive management gives a person the knowledge he needs to manage a dealership. Courses in auto parts, auto service, advertising, finance and vehicle warranties are common. Sales degrees that focus on auto sales and technology might also be available. Auto management and sales degrees are usually more common at junior colleges or technical schools.

NADA

The National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) sponsors different types of training. NADA's academy has six distinct programs for careers in a dealership. Examples include operations, department management, fleet sales and consumer sales. The NADA's General Dealership Management Academy focuses on preparing professionals for general manager roles and includes classes in financial analysis and decision making skills. NADA's Special Ops program provides in-depth specialized training for sales, service, and parts managers.

About the Author

Helen Akers specializes in business and technology topics. She has professional experience in business-to-business sales, technical support, and management. Akers holds a Master of Business Administration with a marketing concentration from Devry University's Keller Graduate School of Management and a Master of Fine Arts in creative writing from Antioch University Los Angeles.